Nenshi insists everything going smoothly in Calgary and we're all over the moon about how things roll at city hall

Mayor Naheed Nenshi cast his votes at an advance polling station located on a bus at the Brentwood LRT station in N.W. Calgary on Wednesday October 9, 2013. The bus will be at various stations up until election day. Darren Makowichuk/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

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Yes, those on the campaign trail talking tax hikes and tax breaks and lack of value for the tax dollar and telling us taxpayers do not sound amused don’t get it.

Columnists pointing to murmurs of discontent are giving directions to a mirage.

You folks out there on Taxpayer Road are feeling on top of the world.

Your nose might be out of joint the odd time for as long as it takes to scratch an itch but you’re really pleased as punch with city hall.

In fact, Calgarians “are satisfied in numbers we’ve never seen before.”

Record numbers. Happier than we’ve ever been.

So says Nenshi.

The mayor is out and about, casting his ballot on an advance poll bus near the Brentwood LRT.

On Wednesday, he’s no longer frowny-face Nenshi slamming dastardly developers or political legends or a supposed nasty slate of candidates out to get him and his pals on council.

No. Enter Mr. Smiley-Face Mayor, the kinder, gentler Nenshi.

He says he’s been in the company of lots of people the last few weeks and no one talks taxes.

No one.

So if people aren’t miffed over huge tax hikes what is their gripe?

“The thing I’m hearing the most is, you’re not going to like hearing it but I’m going to tell you anyway, people are really happy.”

“Things here and there” may bug you and “every now and then you get an irritant like a giant blue hula-hoop thing.”

“But, by and large, people say the city works well. We’re on the right track. Things are good.”

Nenshi says he was at an event with seniors and a lady gets the biggest hand when she says “this feels like a kind place.”

“That’s what I’m hearing.”

When Nenshi gets owly and growly he is criticized. It’s suggested he tones down the attitude.

But when he’s oozing the saccharin it’s like catnip for the low-information voter.

People who need a map to find city hall swoon. They say they love the mayor and they don’t know why except he makes them feel good.

They praise His Worship sometimes treating him more like a patron saint than a politician, crediting him with the finding of lost things, the saving of a city, the success of events where he played no part.

And, since the Oct. 21 election is not about who will be mayor but who will sit on council, a smiley-face Nenshi could help his alderman buddies battling back challengers.

What about those knocking on doors who insist voters are upset about the conduct of the people’s business?

What of those hopefuls who say the big tax hikes and the blatant tax grab do rub voters the wrong way?

“If I sell red Chevrolets and you ask me what is the most popular car in the market I will probably say a red Chevrolet,” says the mayor.

Nenshi says if candidates right off the bat ask people if they’re mad about taxes they will say that’s the No. 1 issue.

“I never ask people anything. I just say: ‘Tell me how you’re feeling in the city.’”

Remember this is the mayor who says telling citizens the city hit them with a 30%-plus tax hike over three years is wrong.

Nenshi, who will spend about a half-million on his campaign, also speaks of Twitter, a tool his Purple Army faithful used to great effect three years ago.

It’s all turned a bit sour.

He says now “people just come and yell at one another.”

The mayor says he gets “abusive” treatment but it’s from “the same dozen people and they’re followed by the same dozen people.”

“What is really bad is they’re bullying others.”

And what about the Purple Army?

“They’re less angry,” says Nenshi. “People who are angry at me are really angry.”

His followers are angry “a little.”

“You get it once in awhile. But you look at the abuse that goes Rick Bell’s way. It’s pretty mild compared to some of the stuff both me and regular citizens like kids are getting on the other side.”

Some candidates for council don’t agree with the mayor about how Calgarians feel this election.

James Maxim is up against Ald. Brian Pincott.

He says voters don’t like the tax hikes and what they’re getting for the dollars they send to city hall.

They’re still upset about the $52 million. Ditto for the “so-called art piece.”

“I’m not putting words in the mouths of voters,” says Maxim.

Joe Connelly, the former alderman and fiscal hawk opposing Ald. Richard Pootmans, says taxes and city waste are the top beefs.

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